Bumbleance, claimed to be the world's first 'interactive children's ambulance' service, was launched last week (September 6) in Dublin. The brand new custom-fit Mercedes-Benz ambulance will be used to transport sick kids to scheduled appointments between their homes and various National Treatment Centres and Hospice/Respite Centres. It will be operated by a non-profit charity, the Saoirse Foundation, in partnership with Lifeline Ambulance Service. The latter will provide its expertise at cost, emphasising the not-for-profit nature of this service. The Bumbleance must be booked in advance and patients must qualify under 'strict medical criteria'.
The ambulance itself is an upgraded Mercedes-Benz 519 vehicle and the colourful livery is extended to the interior. Along with a more child-friendly design, the patient bay houses an advanced entertainment system that allows the child (or their parents, depending on age) to operate a wide range of gadgets, including a 19-inch LED television, a DVD player, an iPad and a PlayStation. There's a full library of games, films and apps and even Wi-Fi. Members of the public can message or tweet the ambulance occupants and the progress of the vehicle can be tracked via satellite by other members of the family.
Bumbleance is the brainchild of Tony Heffernan, who co-founded the Saoirse Foundation in 2010 with his wife, with the mission to 'make positive life impacts for sick children'. No State funding has been set aside for this service, but the Saorise Foundation plans to raise funds from the business community and members of the public. It is also hoping to collect 30,000 used mobile phones, which alone will allow the service to operate for a full year.
Joanna Fortune, Child Physiologist at Solamh Clinic said that "Research shows the areas of the brain that are stimulated by physical pain are also activated by emotional pain during stress, fear and anxiety. A stressful journey when already in physical discomfort serves only to exacerbate the physical symptoms for the child. However, travelling in the Bumbleance alleviates the stress and fear associated with ambulance travel for children and so they arrive for treatment in a much more contained and relaxed state of mind."
Tony Heffernan added, "Our vision is to have one Bumbleance for each province by the end of 2015 plus an additional Bumbleance for Dublin. We want to be in a position to offer this service to every parent of a sick child that requires ambulance transportation to appointments and would ask everyone to support us and also to send us old mobile phones to guarantee the growth of our service."
For more information go to www.bumbleance.com.